Best ways to actually reach a NY unemployment representative when 888-209-8124 keeps hanging up

Unfortunately, the NYSDOL doesn't really have walk-in offices for unemployment claims anymore - most physical locations closed after COVID and never reopened for in-person services. Your best bet is still calling, but try these strategies: 1. Call exactly at 8:00 AM Monday morning 2. Use multiple phones to call simultaneously if possible 3. If you hear the high volume message, hang up and immediately redial 4. Keep trying repeatedly for at least an hour 5. Try calling on Wednesday afternoons around 2-3 PM when volume seems lower Also, have you tried their online messaging system? Log into your NY.gov account, go to your unemployment dashboard, and look for the secure message option. Sometimes they respond within 48 hours.

omg same problem!!! i've called like 50 times this week. so annoying!!!

After dealing with this for WEEKS last spring, I finally found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an actual human at NYSDOL. It's basically a system that waits on hold for you and calls you back when an agent is available. I was skeptical at first but got connected to an agent within about 2 hours after trying for almost a month on my own. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Rdqa1gKtxuE The website is claimyr.com if you want to check it out. Honestly, with how impossible it is to get through normally, it was worth it for me. My claim issue got resolved in one call after the agent picked up.

The trick that worked for me was calling the TTY/TDD number instead of the main line. The regular number never works but the TTY line got me through to a person after about 45 min on hold. I think the number is 888-783-1370. worth a try

I understand your frustration completely. Having worked adjacent to NYSDOL for years, I can tell you that current wait times are significantly worse than usual due to their system upgrade that started in January 2025. Here's what you need to know: 1. There are NO walk-in offices for unemployment claims specifically. The Career Centers can help with job searching but cannot access or modify your unemployment claim. 2. The most effective method currently is to use the secure message system through your NY.gov account. Be very specific about your issue and include all relevant claim numbers and dates. They're currently responding to these within 5-7 business days. 3. If calling is your only option, the absolute best time is Tuesday or Wednesday between 10:30-11:30am. That's after the morning rush but before lunch breaks. 4. Contacting your state representative's office can sometimes help expedite urgent claims issues. They have special channels to NYSDOL. 5. Make sure you're continuing to certify weekly even if you have an unresolved issue. Whatever you do, don't create multiple accounts or make repeated claims as this will flag your account for fraud review and make everything much worse.

This is WHY the system is broken!!! They DONT WANT to help us!!! I've been trying for 3 MONTHS to get someone on the phone. My benefits stopped for NO REASON in February and I can't pay my bills!!! The whole system is designed to FRUSTRATE people so they give up. I've called over 200 times. TWO HUNDRED!!!! Nothing works and nobody cares.

Update: I tried the secure messaging system like several of you suggested, and I actually got a response this morning! They said my issue requires speaking with an agent (of course), but they gave me a specific date and 2-hour window to call a special number where someone will be expecting my call. Fingers crossed this actually works! I'll post another update after my scheduled call time.

For anyone else dealing with this, after I used the Claimyr service I mentioned earlier, I learned some tricks directly from the agent I spoke with. She told me they're actually required to answer 90% of calls that make it into their queue, but their system capacity is limited. The problem isn't that they don't want to help - it's that their phone system literally can't hold more than a certain number of callers at once. She recommended: 1. Calling between 10:30-11:30am on Tuesdays specifically 2. If you do get the "high call volume" message, wait exactly 3 minutes and call back 3. If you're placed on hold, NEVER hang up - they do get to everyone in the queue eventually Hopefully this helps someone else!

Congratulations on getting your issue resolved! This thread has been incredibly helpful for those of us struggling with the same problem. I'm dealing with a similar situation where my benefits were suddenly stopped in January with no explanation. Based on all the advice here, I'm going to try the secure messaging system first since that seems to have the highest success rate. For anyone else reading this, it sounds like the key takeaways are: 1. Use the secure messaging system through your NY.gov account as the first option 2. If you must call, try Tuesday 10:30-11:30am specifically 3. Contact your state representative if it's urgent 4. Don't give up on the secure messaging - they're responding within 5-7 days according to the posts here Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences and strategies. It's reassuring to know there are actual ways to get through this system even when it feels impossible!

As someone who just went through this nightmare myself, I wanted to add a few more tips that worked for me. I was stuck in the same loop for about 6 weeks - calling that 888-209-8124 number and getting hung up on immediately. What finally worked was a combination of strategies mentioned here: 1. I used the secure messaging system AND called my state senator's office the same day. The senator's office actually responded faster and gave me a direct contact at NYSDOL. 2. When I did get through via the callback system (similar to what Isaiah experienced), the agent told me that many people's issues are actually fixable online if you know where to look. She walked me through the "Issue Resolution" section in my account that I had completely missed. 3. Pro tip: Screenshot EVERYTHING in your account regularly. I had benefit weeks that showed as "paid" one day and "pending" the next, and having those screenshots helped prove there was a system glitch. The whole experience was incredibly stressful, but there ARE ways to get help. Don't give up, and definitely try multiple approaches simultaneously rather than just repeatedly calling the main number. The system is broken but the people working there genuinely want to help once you can actually reach them.

I've been lurking on this thread for a while dealing with the exact same issue, and I wanted to share what finally worked for me after reading everyone's advice. Like many of you, I was stuck in the endless loop of calling 888-209-8124 and getting immediately hung up on. Here's what I tried based on this thread: 1. Started with the secure messaging system - got a response in 4 days asking for additional documentation 2. While waiting, I also contacted my assemblyman's office (found my rep on nyassembly.gov) 3. The assemblyman's office actually got back to me first and connected me with a NYSDOL liaison What I learned from talking to the liaison is that there's actually a separate callback system for people who have been waiting over 30 days. You have to specifically mention in your secure message that you've been trying unsuccessfully for over a month, and they'll prioritize your case for the callback system. Also, she confirmed what others mentioned about the system upgrade - they're apparently migrating to a completely new platform through April 2025, which is causing a lot of the technical issues we're all experiencing. The most important thing I learned: keep documenting every attempt to contact them (date, time, method) because if you end up needing to escalate further, having that record is crucial. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences here - this thread literally saved my sanity knowing I wasn't alone in this struggle!

Wow, this entire thread has been a lifesaver! I've been dealing with the same exact problem - calling that 888 number dozens of times only to get hung up on immediately. Reading through everyone's experiences and solutions has given me so much hope and actual actionable steps to try. I'm definitely going to start with the secure messaging system tonight and make sure to mention that I've been trying unsuccessfully for over 6 weeks (so I qualify for that 30+ day callback system that Paolo mentioned). I'll also reach out to my state representative's office tomorrow morning. The tip about screenshotting everything is brilliant - I wish I had been doing that from the beginning. And knowing that this is all related to their system upgrade through April at least explains why everything has been so much worse lately. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share what worked for them, especially Isaiah for the updates showing that these methods actually do work! It's such a relief to know there are real paths forward instead of just endlessly calling that useless main number. I'll make sure to post an update once I get through to someone to help the next person dealing with this nightmare.

This thread is incredibly valuable! I've been fighting with the NYSDOL system since early February and was starting to think I was going crazy. Reading everyone's experiences and solutions gives me actual hope for the first time in weeks. Based on all the advice here, I'm planning to: 1. Use the secure messaging system tonight and specifically mention I've been trying for 45+ days (to get into that callback system Paolo mentioned) 2. Contact my state senator's office tomorrow 3. Start documenting every contact attempt going forward 4. Screenshot my account status regularly in case there are glitches The information about the system upgrade running through April 2025 finally explains why everything has gotten so much worse recently. It's frustrating but at least knowing there's a concrete reason helps. Special thanks to Isaiah for providing updates showing these methods actually work, and to everyone else who shared specific strategies and contact methods. This is exactly the kind of community support that makes a real difference when you're dealing with an impossible bureaucratic system! I'll definitely post an update once I make progress to help the next person who finds this thread.

I just wanted to chime in as someone who went through this exact same nightmare last year. Reading through all these experiences brings back so many memories of that frustration! A few additional tips based on what worked for me: 1. If you use the secure messaging system, include your phone number AND best times to reach you in the message. Sometimes they'll actually call you directly instead of scheduling through the callback system. 2. When contacting your state rep, don't just email - actually call their office and speak to a staff member. I found they take phone calls much more seriously than online forms. 3. If you're on social media, politely tagging @NYSDOL on Twitter/X with your case details sometimes gets faster responses than other methods. They seem to prioritize public-facing complaints. 4. Keep certifying your weekly benefits even if you have unresolved issues! I made the mistake of stopping certification thinking it didn't matter, and that created additional complications. The system is definitely broken, but as everyone here has proven, there ARE ways to get through. Don't give up - your persistence will pay off. And thank you to everyone sharing their success stories - it really helps people stay motivated when they're feeling hopeless about the whole process!

As someone who just successfully resolved their NYSDOL issue after 2 months of trying, I wanted to add one more strategy that worked for me - the NY Department of Labor mobile app actually has a "Request Callback" feature that's separate from the secure messaging system! I discovered this completely by accident when I downloaded the app out of desperation. In the app, go to "Contact Us" and then "Request Phone Callback" - it lets you select your specific issue type and preferred callback times. I got a call back within 3 business days, which was faster than any other method I tried. The agent told me that the mobile app callback system is newer and has a separate queue from the regular phone lines, so it's not as overwhelmed. She also mentioned that they're prioritizing callbacks for people with issues older than 21 days. Also want to echo what everyone said about continuing to certify weekly - that's crucial. And definitely screenshot everything! I caught my account showing different payment statuses on different days, which helped prove there was a system error. This thread has been incredibly helpful for so many people. The combination of strategies really does work - don't rely on just one method, try multiple approaches simultaneously. The system is frustrating but the individual workers really do want to help once you can reach them!

This thread has been absolutely incredible - thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and strategies! I've been stuck in the same frustrating cycle of calling 888-209-8124 and getting immediately hung up on for about 7 weeks now. My benefits were stopped in late January with no explanation, and I was starting to feel completely hopeless. Based on all the amazing advice here, I'm going to try a multi-pronged approach: 1. Download the mobile app tonight and use that callback feature Max mentioned - I had no idea that existed! 2. Send a secure message specifically mentioning I've been trying for 7+ weeks to get into that priority callback system 3. Call my state representative's office tomorrow morning instead of just emailing 4. Start documenting every single contact attempt going forward 5. Screenshot my account regularly to catch any glitches The information about the system upgrade running through April finally makes sense of why everything has gotten so much worse lately. It's still incredibly frustrating, but at least knowing there's an actual reason helps. Reading Isaiah's success story and seeing how many different people have found ways through this broken system gives me real hope for the first time in weeks. I'll definitely post an update once I make progress to help anyone else who finds this thread. This community support has been a lifesaver during such a stressful situation!

I'm dealing with the exact same frustrating situation! Been trying to reach someone at NYSDOL for over a month now and that 888-209-8124 number is completely useless - just hangs up every single time. This thread is like finding gold! I had no idea there were so many different approaches to try. I'm definitely going to start with downloading the mobile app tonight to try that callback feature - I can't believe there's a separate queue through the app that's less overwhelmed. The secure messaging system sounds promising too, especially with the tip about mentioning how long you've been trying to get priority treatment. My benefits got cut off in February with zero explanation and I'm getting desperate trying to figure out what happened. It's such a relief to see actual success stories here and know that people are eventually getting through. The system upgrade explanation finally makes sense of why everything has been such a disaster lately. Thank you to everyone sharing their strategies and experiences - this is exactly the kind of community support that makes a difference when you're dealing with impossible bureaucracy. I'll definitely post an update once I try these methods!

I've been following this thread closely because I'm in the exact same boat - stuck trying to reach NYSDOL for weeks with that useless 888-209-8124 number just hanging up constantly. This has been the most helpful resource I've found anywhere! I wanted to share one additional tip I discovered yesterday: if you have a pending appeal or overpayment issue, there's actually a separate Appeals Division number (518-402-0205) that sometimes has shorter wait times. The agent I eventually reached told me they can often resolve issues that the regular unemployment line can't handle directly. Also, I found success using the NY.gov live chat feature during off-peak hours (around 2-3 PM on weekdays). It's not specifically for unemployment, but they can sometimes transfer you or provide direct contact information for NYSDOL supervisors. Reading through everyone's success stories here gives me so much hope! I'm definitely going to try the mobile app callback feature tonight along with sending another secure message mentioning my 6+ week timeline. The combination approach seems to be key rather than relying on just one method. Thank you to this entire community for sharing strategies and keeping each other motivated. This thread should be pinned as a resource for anyone dealing with NYSDOL issues!

This thread is absolutely incredible - I can't believe how much helpful information everyone has shared! I've been dealing with the exact same issue for about 5 weeks now. That 888-209-8124 number is completely broken - just immediate hangups every single time I call. I had no idea about so many of these strategies, especially the mobile app callback feature that Max mentioned. I'm downloading it right now to try that separate queue system. The secure messaging approach with the 30+ day priority callback also sounds really promising. My situation is that my benefits just stopped in early February with no explanation whatsoever. I've been certifying weekly but getting $0 payments and can't figure out why. Reading all these success stories gives me actual hope that there's a way through this nightmare. I'm going to try multiple approaches at once based on all the advice here: 1. Mobile app callback request tonight 2. Secure message mentioning 5+ weeks of unsuccessful attempts 3. Contact my assemblyman's office tomorrow 4. Start documenting everything going forward Thank you to everyone who took time to share what worked for them - this community support means everything when you're dealing with such a frustrating system. I'll definitely post an update once I make progress!

This thread has been absolutely invaluable! I've been stuck in the same nightmare for about 8 weeks now - calling that 888-209-8124 number and getting hung up on immediately every single time. My benefits were cut off in late January with zero explanation, and I was starting to lose hope completely. Reading through everyone's experiences and all these different strategies has given me the first real hope I've had in months. I had no idea about the mobile app callback feature with the separate queue, or the secure messaging priority system for people who've been trying 30+ days, or that contacting state representatives could actually help expedite things. Based on all the incredible advice here, I'm planning to: 1. Download the mobile app tonight and request a callback through that separate queue system 2. Send a detailed secure message specifically mentioning my 8+ week timeline to get priority treatment 3. Call my state senator's office tomorrow morning (rather than just emailing) 4. Start keeping detailed records of all contact attempts going forward 5. Continue weekly certification and screenshot my account regularly It's so frustrating that we have to become detective-level researchers just to access basic government services, but this community has created an amazing resource. The system upgrade explanation finally makes sense of why everything has gotten exponentially worse since January. Thank you to everyone who shared their success stories and strategies - it really makes a difference knowing there are actual pathways forward. I'll definitely post an update once I make progress to help the next person who finds this lifeline of a thread!